PABTUurno-v.] 



AND TIIEIK VAlilOUS HllEEDS. 



[pAmuniTioN. 



Should this occur whilst he is driving her to 

 fold, ho must give her time, nnd exercise great 

 caution in urging her too fast. Symptoms of 

 tliis kind ought to bo sullored to continue for 

 two or tluvo hours, or even longer, before lie 

 feels himself called upon to interfere, unless 

 the lamb is in such a dangerous position as to 

 excite fears of losing it. Protracted labour 

 often occurs in cold weather. On such occa- 

 sions, should the ewo seem exhausted, and to 

 bo gradually sinking under the prolonged 

 severity of her labour, some oatmeal gruel, 

 with a little linseed, in the proportion of a 

 spoonful of the latter to two of the former, 

 should be given her. "When, the ewe feels 

 that she cannot of herself expel the lamb, she 

 will quietly submit to the interference of the 

 shepherd, and almost look for his assistance. 

 Where this assistance is necessary, the first 

 duty will be to ascertain whether the presenta- 

 tion is natural. "When this is the case, the 

 muzzle of the lamb is foremost, with a foot on 

 each side of it. Should this be the presenta- 

 tion, his first business will be to disengage 

 the lamb, by gently drawing down the legs, 

 and, with all possible tenderness, smoothing 

 and accelerating the passing of the head with 

 his fingers, rather tliau forcibly extricating it 

 — the particular attention of the shepherd 

 being given to these points. This is to be 

 done by passing the finger up the rectum 

 until the back of the lamb's head is felt, which 

 must be urged forward, at the same time that 

 the legs are gently pulled. It sometimes hap- 

 pens that the legs are too backward, whilst 

 the head is sufllcieutly advanced. In such 

 cases, the head should be gently pushed back, 

 and the hand, being well oiled, that the object 

 may be the more easily effected, must bo in- 

 troduced into th.e vagina, and applied to the 

 legs, so as to place them in their natural posi- 

 tion equal with the head. On the other hand, 

 should the fore feet protrude, they must, in 

 like manner, be returned, and the same assis- 

 tance given to advance the head. If the hind 

 quarters present themselves first, the hand 

 must be so applied as to get hold of both legs 

 together, and draw them gently, but firmly. 

 In this position the lamb may be often easily 

 removed. It frequently happens that the 

 head of the lamb is much swollen and pro- 

 truding. "Where this is the case, both patience 

 5c 



and gontlo manipulation will bo required to 

 bring it forward by degrees. Nature herself, 

 however, if not unduly interfered with, will, 

 provided the pelvis bo not very much deformed, 

 (•(feet her own operation. In case the strength 

 of tho mother should bo rapidly diminish- 

 ing, the head may be taken awav, and then 

 tho operator will bo able to [)ush back tho 

 lamb and introduce his hand, when, by layinf» 

 hold of the fore legs, ho will ellcct the delivery, 

 it sometimes happens, however, that tho legs 

 are thrust out to the shoulder, when, from tho 

 throes of the ewe, it is not possible to replace 

 them so as to raise tho head of the lamb ; but 

 by partially skinning the legs, they may bo 

 separated from the shoulder-joint, when room 

 will be given for tlie introduction of the hand, 

 and by laying hold of tlie head the ewe may 

 bo delivered. The practice obtained in one 

 season, however, will do more to enable the 

 farmer to act in difllcult cases of labour, than 

 all the instructions that can be given in a 

 volume of writing; but, as a general rule, it 

 should be remembered that the foetus should, 

 if possible, be placed in its natural position 

 previously to any attempt to extricate it by 

 force. "W'hen this must be employed, it ou"ht 

 to be in as gentle a manner as can be consistent 

 with tho tenderness of the object to be de- 

 livered. After parturition, it is hardly neces- 

 sary to observe that tlie ewe should be nursed 

 with the greatest care and attention until she 

 has completely recovered. After difficult 

 labour, and where much assistance has been 

 given, the labiao of the uterus and vagina are 

 sometimes ruptured. In such cases, where 

 there is no other hope, a veterinary surgeon 

 will have to divide the ligatures 



"When ruptures of the vagina take place, use 

 the following dressing, rudely known as tho 

 " Driffield oil," or black oil :— 



Take of Olive oil . , .1 pint. 



Spirit of turpentine . 2 ounces. 

 Sulpliuric acid . . G drachms. 

 They are safest mixed in a stone jar, as great 

 heat will be generated during and just after 

 the mixture. "When cool, it may be put in a 

 bottle for use. 



If an appearance of mortification or gangrene 

 occurs, a more decided application will be ne- 

 cessary, when it is best to call in a veterinary 



J4.0 



